Young Judas Tree | Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'Fire'

Autumn Colours in Spring and Summer

The Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'Fire' is a spectacular and eye-catching tree.

Its heart-shaped leaves emerge in bright shades of red, purple, orange and dark yellow. This creates an almost autumnal appearance in your garden, even though spring has only just begun.

Because the tree continues to produce new shoots throughout the growing season, these striking colours repeatedly appear on the young branches, even after the older leaves have already turned green.

Flowers and Leaf Colour

Before the brightly coloured leaves appear, the Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'Fire' produces clusters of dark pink, pea-like flowers that emerge directly from the bare branches.

This early flowering is not only particularly beautiful, but also valuable for nature: the flowers provide an important source of food for bees and butterflies that are just emerging from their winter dormancy.

Once the leaves develop, the striking combination of red, purple, orange and dark yellow foliage remains clearly visible throughout the summer. In autumn, the leaves gradually turn yellow before eventually falling from the tree.

Tree Size and Crown

The Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'Fire' is a small tree with an open growth habit.

Depending on its shape and growing conditions, the tree remains relatively small, reaching a height of approximately 2 to 4 metres. This makes it highly suitable for any garden, including smaller gardens.

Winter Hardiness

This cultivar is hardy to approximately -19°C.

When young, it can be somewhat sensitive to frost, so we recommend protecting the tree from frost.

We recommend pruning the tree only in late spring, as young branches can sometimes suffer some dieback as a result of (night) frost.

Origin

The Cercis canadensis 'Hearts A'Fire' (officially 'JN100') was developed in Tennessee, USA.

This exceptional cultivar was introduced in 2024 and is protected by plant breeders' rights.

How to plant the tree?

1. Determine the final location of the tree and ensure it is free from cables, debris, old plants, and other obstacles that may hinder the tree's growth.
2. Dig a planting hole that is twice the width of the root ball. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the planting hole and mix the excavated soil with (organic) garden soil or planting substrate.
3. Adjust the planting hole to the height where the root ball fits and firmly press the soil.
4. Fill the planting hole with water and wait for it to settle. Check if the root ball is sufficiently moist.
5. Place the tree or plant in the planting hole. It is extremely important that the tree is not planted too deep, as this can cause root rot.
6. Insert a tree stake or bamboo stake firmly into the ground on the side of the tree where the most wind comes from.
7. Now, place the watering ring or create a mound of soil around the tree so that water can seep into the ground.

Why Choose a Young Tree from Amitis

• Easy to plant yourself due to the compact size and light weight
• Conveniently delivered to your home in a sturdy packaging
• Experience the growth and development of your own tree
• Easy to maintain
• Cultivate the size and growth form you are looking for
• Attain mature size within a short time
• Can be planted year-round as everything is delivered in pots
• No root loss and better chances of establishment as everything is pot-grown
• Cost-effective purchase
• Fresh, healthy plants directly from the grower

Questions?

Want to know more about pruning? Read our page on tree maintenance! Feel free to contact us; we are happy to assist!